Shoe construction



July 9, 1935. v H B. QQCKRUM 2,@@7,l57

SHOE CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 2, 1934 /6 E- J l 7 #91919) a (er/2W1? 3nnentor Gttorneg Patented July 9, 1935 UNiTED STATES A'ENT QFFICE My invention relates to improvements in shoes, and particularly to improvements in means whereby the shoe tongue may be maintained in continued registry with the front opening of the shoe.

Heretofore it has been the general custom to secure the shoe tongue only at its lower end, and to depend upon the inherent resistance of it to prevent lateral displacement. As frequently occurs, however, the tongue becomes laterally warped, and fails to align itself with the front opening of the shoe. Attempts to correct this fault have heretofore been made, the fastening of an edge of the tongue to the corresponding side flap of the shoe having been tried, but my improved device accurately locates the shoe tongue centrally of the front opening of the shoe, and maintains it in the desired position for the life of the shoe.

Through my new and improved construction I provide one or more slits or holes or a fastening flap within or upon and centrally of the top end of the shoe tongue, through which, or beneath which the shoe laces may be passed toprecisely position the tongue of the shoe relative to the sides of the top of the upper part of the shoe.

A further object of my invention consists in providing means for precisely positioning and maintaining the tongue of the shoe in placement without materially increasing the cost of the tongue of the shoe.

A further object of my invention consists in so constructing and arranging the tongue of the shoe that the shoe lacing may be passed therethrough without occasioning any discomfort to the wearer thereof.

Another object of my invention consists in providing means for properly maintaining the tongue of the shoe in placement when the shoe is being worn.

A further object of my invention consists in providing means associated within or upon the tongue of the shoe that will maintain the tongue of the shoe in precise placement when the shoe laces are passed therethrough or thereunder and the shoe is fastened by the laces in the usual manner.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combination of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in the appended claims, and a preferred form of embodiment of which is hereinafter shown with reference to the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective side view of a shoe illustrating the shoe laces as having been passed through the tongue of the shoe preparatory to tying.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the shoe illustrating the lace as having been passed through the tongue and tied in the usual manner.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the top end of the tongue of the shoe illustrating the stitching 10 for securing an alternative type of lacing locator thereto.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan View of the shoe lace locator shown secured in a slightly modified stitching arrangement from that illustrated in Fig. 3. 15

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the top of the tongue of the shoe illustrating spaced holes formed therein through which the shoe lace may be passed. In this arrangement four holes are provided.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the top of the tongue illustrating but two holes as having been formed therein. These holes are placed in a diagonal arrangement relative to the side 25 and end walls of the shoe tongue.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

I is a conventional shoe, having tongue 2 disposed therein. 30

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, I provide parallelly disposed slits 3 and 4 within the shoe tongue and adjacent top edge 5 thereof. Through these slits respective ends 6 and l of the shoe lace are passed. When the lace has been tied and secured in the usual 35 manner this form of construction maintains the tongue of the shoe in precise position and prevents the same from slipping out of registry with the opening disposed between side walls 8 and. 9 of the shoe. 40

In Fig. 5 I substitute for the slits 3 and 4, pairs of spaced holes through which the shoe laces are passed. Holes I0 and II are placed in diagonal arrangement with each other as are holes l2 and I3. 45

Satisfactory results may be obtained in the adaptation of my device as disclosed in Fig. 6 wherein holes [4 and I5 are provided and through which but one of the laces of the shoe would be made to pass. Holes l4 and 15 are in diagonal relationship with each other in order that the crossing of the lace therethrough may conform to conventional lacing of the shoe. If a cross lacing is desired for the shoe instead of a diago- 55 nal lacing the complementary holes l4 and I5 may be placed in horizontal alignment with each other.

The desired effect of the construction illustrated in the drawing as illustrated and embodied in Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6 is secured by passing the shoe lace underneath the shoe tongue. In cases where this might create discomfort for the wearer fastening I 6 may be secured to the top side of the tongue I! and one or both of the shoe laces may be passed thereunder to maintain the shoe tongue in precise position and alignment. The stitchings I 8, I 9, 20 and 2| may be so arranged that the respective side walls of the channels formed thereby will be substantially parallel to the diagonal lacings of the shoe. If a cross lacing is provided instead of the diagonal lacing the fastening flap 22 may be placed upon the top of the tongue of the shoe and the stitching 23 and 2 may be made substantially at right angles to the side walls 25 and 26 of the fastening flap beneath which the shoe lace passes.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the embodiment herein shown and described, as it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What I claim is:

l. The combination with a shoe tongue of exterior fastening stitched to the tongue adjacent the top end thereof in a manner to facilitate the passing of the ends of the shoe laces thereunder before the shoe laces are tied in the usual manner.

2. The combination with a shoe lace and a tongue therefor, means disposed upon and adjacent and centrally of the upper end of the tongue to receive the crossed ends of the lace for maintaining the tongue in median position.

HARRY B. COCKRUM. 

